Luca Badoer - Chaos Theory

[shinji]

It's early 1994. Flavio Briatore is on the lookout for a driver to partner Michael Schumacher at Benetton. He has a shortlist comprising of the following:

1) JJ Lehto - Relatively experienced and solid Finn, previous drives with Onyx, Dallara and Sauber, with a couple of decent results along the way.

2) Jos Verstappen - Young Dutchman, experience in Formula 3, looks quick but possibly a bit wild.

3) Michele Alboreto - 38 years old and extraordinarily experienced, the Italian has been in F1 since 1981 debut with Tyrrell; 9 years since career peak with a Championship challenge, since then a severe downward curve, in 1993 regularly failing to qualify for Scuderia Italia.

4) Luca Badoer - Young Italian, won in a strong 1992 Formula 3000 field, generally outperformed Alboreto at Scuderia Italia in '93.

Briatore organises a test at Silverstone, a shootout for the seat. Verstappen has been pencilled in for the test drivers seat, but takes part anyway.

Over the course of a day, the drivers are all given a total of 30 laps to impress in a prospective B194.

Lehto is been consistently fast, but for a spin at one point. Impressive, with a fastest lap of 1.27.987 (5 seconds down on Damon Hill's fastest lap in 1993, but that was to be expected with rule changes), the Benetton big-wigs assigned the job of choosing the driver, give him a rating of 8/10.

Verstappen actually recorded a faster fastest lap than Lehto, a 1.27.478 , but overall is significantly less solid, eventually throwing the car in to a tyre barrier on his 21st lap. The big-wigs give him 6/10.

The car is swiftly mended for Alboreto, who, methodically and rhythmically, never ventures lower than 1:28.500, but never higher than 1:28.600. This does not suffice for the big-wigs, who rate him at 5/10.

Finally, as the light began to fade on the January evening, Luca Badoer is given a shot in the still partially damaged Benetton. On his out-lap he gets the feel of the car, and over the next 30 laps he negotiates every kerb, every apex, every inch of Silverstone, with a consistency and speed to rival the greats who had rounded the hallowed circuit. Something had clicked between Luca and the car, and when he arrives back in the pits, the big-wigs all but declare him Benetton's Number 2 driver. He could rest safely in the thought that he had almost certainly gotten a second bite of the F1 cherry, and in an established race-winning team.

[Enforcer]

Would've been nice, but given that the B194, though quick, was a difficult car that only Schumacher could handle - they were literally nowhere pacewise without him in Italy and Portugal and Verstappen and Lehto both said they had trouble finding the limit in it without going over it, which the car would reward with rampant oversteer, (and some years later Schumacher said that sounded about right) - Badoer may have de-rejectified himself, but probably wouldn't have done a whole lot else.

[shinji]

Would've been nice, but given that the B194, though quick, was a difficult car that only Schumacher could handle - they were literally nowhere pacewise without him in Italy and Portugal and Verstappen and Lehto both said they had trouble finding the limit in it without going over it, which the car would reward with rampant oversteer, (and some years later Schumacher said that sounded about right) - Badoer may have de-rejectified himself, but probably wouldn't have done a whole lot else.

Yeah, but where's the fun in that?

________________________________________


Over the next couple of weeks, Luca's life goes at a terrifying pace; he's rushed from Enstone, signing contracts, to London and press conferences, back to Enstone with car launches, back home to Montebelluna to be feted as a town hero, to Silverstone tests, with no time to rest. He's introduced to team-mate Michael Schumacher, and all is amicable within the team. He chats with Riccardo Patrese, who's seat he's taking, who advises him to never back down in his inevitable battle with Schumacher; to never roll over, no matter who is giving the order to. This piece of advice was to stick with Luca.

At the various tests, he was running at the same pace at Schumacher, and it was only the Williamses of Hill and Senna who could rival their times. The other top drivers found it difficult to adapt to driving without all the aids that had been on the cars in 1993, but since Luca's Scuderia Italia had none anyway, the adaption was simple! Though the car was difficult to drive, he found that the issues were not insurmountable, and maintained his good level of pace.

So, with the first race at Brazil fast approaching, the situation in F1 is as follows:

Rothmans Williams Renault
0: Damon Hill
2: Ayrton Senna
TD: David Coulthard

Tyrrell
3: JJ Lehto
4: Mark Blundell
TD: N/A

Mild Seven Benetton Ford
5: Michael Schumacher
6: Luca Badoer
TD: Jos Verstappen

Marlboro McLaren Peugeot
7: Mika Hakkinen
8: Martin Brundle
TD: Philippe Alliot

Footwork Ford
9: Christian Fittipaldi
10. Ukyo Katayama
TD: N/A

Team Lotus
11: Pedro Lamy
12: Johnny Herbert
TD: Philippe Adams

Sasol Jordan
14: Rubens Barrichello
15: Eddie Irvine
TD: N/A

Tourtel Larrousse F1
19: Heinz-Harald Frentzen
20. Erik Comas
TD: Olivier Beretta

Minardi Scuderia Italia
23: Pierluigi Martini
24: Michele Alboreto
TD: N/A

Ligier Gitanes Blondes
25: Éric Bernard
26: Olivier Panis
TD: N/A

Scuderia Ferrari
27: Jean Alesi
28: Gerhard Berger
TD: Gianni Morbidelli

Broker Sauber Mercedes
29: Karl Wendlinger
30: Nicola Larini
TD: Andrea de Cesaris

MTV Simtek Ford
31: David Brabham
32: Roland Ratzenberger
TD: Andrea Montermini

Pacific Grand Prix Ltd.
33: Paul Belmondo
34: Bertrand Gachot
TD; Giovanni Lavaggi

[shinji]

The First Race of the Rest of His Life - 1994 Brazilian Grand Prix

Qualifying

A tricky qualifying for Luca, ultimately qualifying an impressive 4th, but more than a second down on team-mate Schumacher. Other notables are Larini's Sauber in 6th, Katayama's Footwork in 7th, Frentzen's Larrousse in 12th, and Alboreto's Minardi in 16th, with Berger and Brundle languishing far down the order. With Championship tips Senna and Schumacher fighting from the front, the race is set up well.

1. Ayrton Senna - 1:15.962
2. Michael Schumacher - +0.328
3. Jean Alesi - +1.423
4. Luca Badoer - +1.587
5. Damon Hill - +1.592
6. Nicola Larini - +1.832
7. Ukyo Katayama - +1.908
8. Karl Wendlinger - +1.965
9. Mika Hakkinen - +2.160
10. JJ Lehto - +2.237
11. Christian Fittipaldi - +2.242
12. Heinz-Harald Frentzen - +2.247
13. Mark Blundell - +2.248
14. Erik Comas - +2.359
15. Rubens Barrichello - +2.452
16. Michele Alboreto - +2.697
17. Eddie Irvine - +2.789
18. Gerhard Berger - +2.893
19. Martin Brundle - +2.902
20. Olivier Panis - +3.342
21. Éric Bernard - +3.436
22. Johnny Herbert - +3.521
23. Pierluigi Martini - +3.555
24. Pedro Lamy - +4.013
25. Bertrand Gachot - +4.767
26. David Brabham - +5.224
DNQ: Roland Ratzenberger - +6.745
DNQ: Paul Belmondo - N/A


Race

Senna and Schumacher lead away from the start, with Badoer leaping past Alesi in to 3rd. Over the first couple of laps, Luca and Alesi vie for position, but Badoer retains 3rd. With the leading pair pulling away, Badoer set about stabilising his 5 second gap back to Alesi. On lap 20 the two pit, and position is maintained. On lap 21, Senna and Schumacher pit, with the Benetton crew putting the German out in front. At the midpoint of the race, on lap 35, there was a big crash, when Irvine, approaching Éric Bernard to lap him, pushed JJ Lehto on to the grass. The Tyrrell rolled having lost control on the grass, and landed on Martin Brundle's McLaren. All 4 retired, but none had been in contention for points. Irvine was subseqently banned for 3 races for dangerous driving.

Schumacher had slowly eaked out a gap over Senna, until on lap 55, Senna span out, leaving Schumacher on his own, a lap ahead of Badoer and Alesi, who had remained close for the entire race, with Damon Hill not too far behind them in 4th. With Schumacher able to relax, the laps ran out.

1. Michael Schumacher - 1:35:39.2
2. Luca Badoer - +1 lap
3. Jean Alesi - +1 lap
4. Damon Hill - +1 lap
5. Rubens Barrichello - +2 laps
6. Ukyo Katayama - +2 laps
7. Nicola Larini - +2 laps
8. Johnny Herbert - +2 laps
9. Michele Alboreto - +3 laps
10. Erik Comas - +3 laps
11. Pedro Lamy - +3 laps
12. Olivier Panis - +3 laps
13. David Brabham - +4 laps
Ret: Ayrton Senna - 55 laps - Span off
Ret: Martin Brundle - 34 laps - Crash
Ret: Eddie Irvine - 34 laps - Crash
Ret: JJ Lehto - 34 laps - Crash
Ret: Éric Bernard - 33 laps - Crash
Ret: Mark Blundell - 21 laps - Span off
Ret: Christian Fittipaldi - 21 laps - Gearbox
Ret: Karl Wendlinger - 15 laps - Span off
Ret: Mika Hakkinen - 13 laps - Engine
Ret: Heinz-Harald Frentzen - 10 laps - Span off
Ret: Pierluigi Martini - 7 laps - Engine
Ret: Gerhard Berger - 5 laps - Engine
Ret: Bertrand Gachot - 1 laps - Crash


Driver's Championship after 1 Round

1. Michael Schumacher - 10 points
2. Luca Badoer - 6 points
3. Jean Alesi - 4 points
4. Damon Hill - 3 points
5. Rubens Barrichello - 2 points
6. Ukyo Katayama - 1 point

Constructor's Championship after 1 Round

1. Benetton - Ford - 16 points
2. Ferrari - 4 points
3. Williams - Renault - 3 points
4. Jordan - Hart - 2 points
5. Footwork - Ford - 1 point

[FullMetalJack]

Why is Frentzen at Larrousse?

[DemocalypseNow]

Why is Frentzen at Larrousse?

Nicola Larini stole his seat!

[shinji]

Why is Frentzen at Larrousse?

Nicola Larini stole his seat!

Because...

Badoer took Lehto's seat at Benetton
Lehto took Katayama's seat at Tyrrell
Katayama took Morbidelli's seat at Footwork
Morbidelli took Larini's test seat at Ferrari
Larini took Frentzen's seat at Sauber
Frentzen tookk Beretta's seat at Larrousse
Beretta's out of F1

Ya' see? Chaos theory. Kind of. Not really. But kind of, I guess.

[ADx_Wales]

Tourtel Larrousse F1
16: Heinz-Harald Frentzen
17. Erik Comas
TD: Olivier Beretta

Minardi Scuderia Italia
18: Pierluigi Martini
19: Michele Alboreto
TD: N/A

Ligier Gitanes Blondes
20: Éric Bernard
21: Olivier Panis
TD: N/A

I'm going to be a pedant here.

Larrouse had 19 and 20 for 1993 and 1994

Minardi had 23 and 24, since 1986 until 1996 when the numbering changed to constructor finishing order.

and Ligier were always 25 and 26 up until then too.

[shinji]

Tourtel Larrousse F1
16: Heinz-Harald Frentzen
17. Erik Comas
TD: Olivier Beretta

Minardi Scuderia Italia
18: Pierluigi Martini
19: Michele Alboreto
TD: N/A

Ligier Gitanes Blondes
20: Éric Bernard
21: Olivier Panis
TD: N/A

I'm going to be a pedant here.

Larrouse had 19 and 20 for 1993 and 1994

Minardi had 23 and 24, since 1986 until 1996 when the numbering changed to constructor finishing order.

and Ligier were always 25 and 26 up until then too.

Fix'd for you.

[TomWazzleshaw]

I refuse to follow this anymore because there is absolutely no mention of a certain Alessandro Zanardi whatsoever.

Just kidding. Good work so far Shinji.

[Shizuka]

This is amazing so far!

[thehemogoblin]

I refuse to follow this anymore because there is absolutely no mention of a certain Alessandro Zanardi whatsoever.

Just kidding. Good work so far Shinji.

It's not a hypothetical scenario on F1Rejects without everyone's favorite CART champion.

[shinji]

This is amazing so far!

Thanks!

___________________________________

Pacified - 1994 Pacific Grand Prix, Aida

Qualifying

With Williams and Benetton establishing themselves as the two top teams, Badoer qualifies 4th, and slowest out of that elite group, 7 tenths down on Schumacher. Elsewhere, Alesi substitute Morbidelli qualifies 9th, Irvine substitute Suzuki 21st, and Austrian Roland Ratzenberger 26th, to start his first race.

1. Ayrton Senna - 1:10:218
2. Michael Schumacher - +0.222
3. Damon Hill - +0.553
4. Luca Badoer - +0.964
5. Mika Hakkinen - +1.465
6. Gerhard Berger - +1.526
7. Martin Brundle - +2.133
8. Rubens Barrichello - +2.191
9. Gianni Morbidelli - +2.199
10. Christian Fittipaldi - +2.226
11. Mark Blundell - +2.533
12. JJ Lehto - +2.546
13. Nicola Larini - +2.612
14. Michele Alboreto - 2.798
15. Ukyo Katayama - +2.876
16. Érik Comas - +2.893
17. Heinz-Harald Frentzen - +2.921
18. Pierluigi Martini - +3.311
19. Éric Bernard - +3.395
20. Karl Wendlinger - +3.637
21. Aguri Suzuki - +3.714
22. Olivier Panis - +3.888
23. Johnny Herbert - +4.206
24. Pedro Lamy - +4.439
25. David Brabham - +4.530
26. Roland Ratzenberger - +6.318
DNQ: Bertrand Gachot - +6.709
DNQ: Paul Belmondo - +7.232


Race

At the first corner, a slow starting Senna boxed Badoer in to a corner, where Luca was hit by Mika Hakkinen. Luca's car then span, collecting Morbidelli, Fittipaldi and Lehto, with 4 of them retiring, and Hakkinen continuing after replacing his front wing. A disconsolate Luca trudged back to the pits, where he was comforted by his team; the crash hadn't been his fault, after all. The man who had caused it, Senna, continued on in 3rd, behind Schumacher and Williams team-mate Hill, who moved aside on lap 10 to release the great Brazilian in to space, with a gap of 8 seconds to Schumacher. The leading pair began to pull away from Hill, who was comfortably in front of Berger, Brundle and Barrichello. With Senna unable to make any inroads on Scumacher''s lead, even after their first two pit stops, it looked like it would be a Sch-Sen-Hil podium. That was, until Schumacher ran into the back of the damaged Hakkinen while attempting to lap him, and retired, while Senna then recieved a puncture off of a piece of debris. With Hill's transmission failing on lap 49, it was left for Gerhard Berger to win for Ferrari, from Barrichello and a recovering Senna.

Otherwise, Larini scored points for Sauber, Comas for Larrousse, and Herbert for Lotus, and Ratzenberger finished his first race, 4 laps down.

1. Gerhard Berger - 1:45:47.393
2. Rubens Barrichello - +8.756
3. Ayrton Senna - +9.432
4. Nicola Larini - +49.103
5. Érik Comas - +2 laps
6. Johnny Herbert - +2 laps
7. Pedro Lamy - +3 laps
8. Olivier Panis - +4 laps
9. Éric Bernard - + 4 laps
10. Roland Ratzenberger - +4 laps
Ret: Ukyo Katayama - 69 laps - Engine
Ret: Karl Wendlinger - 69 laps - Collision
Ret: Michele Alboreto - 69 laps - Collision
Ret: Martin Brundle - 67 laps - Overheating
Ret: Pierluigi Martini - 63 laps - Span off
Ret: Michael Schumacher - 57 laps - Collision
Ret: Mika Hakkinen - 56 laps - Collision
Ret: Damon Hill - 49 laps - Transmission
Ret: Aguri Suzuki - 44 laps - Steering
Ret: Mark Blundell - 42 laps - Engine
Ret: Heinz-Harald - 14 laps - Electrical
Ret: David Brabham - 2 laps - Electrical
Ret: Luca Badoer - 0 laps - Collision
Ret: JJ Lehto - 0 laps - Collision
Ret: Christian Fittipaldi - 0 laps - Collision
Ret: Gianni Morbidelli - 0 laps - Collision

Driver's Championship after 2 Rounds

1. Michael Schumacher - 10 points
2. Gerhard Berger - 10 points
3. Rubens Barrichello - 8 points
4. Luca Badoer - 6 points
5. Ayrton Senna - 4 points
=5. Jean Alesi
7. Damon Hill - 3 points
=7. Nicola Larini
9. Érik Comas - 2 points
10. Ukyo Katayama - 1 point
=10. Johnny Herbert

Constructor's Championship after 2 Rounds

1. Benetton - Ford - 16 points
2. Ferrari - 14 points
3. Jordan - Hart - 8 points
4. Williams- Renault - 7 points
5. Sauber - Mercedes - 3 points
6. Larrousse - Ford - 2 points
7. Footwork - Ford - 1 point
=7. Lotus - Mugen Honda

[shinji]

That race - 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, Imola


Pre race

It had been 8 years since the last Formula One death - Elio de Angelis during testing in 1986. It wasn't outlandish to presume a degree of safety had been reached that fatalities were out of the question. Granted, Olivier Beretta, Jean Alesi and in particular Williams tester David Coulthard had suffered injuries in crashes during 1994, but even so, they had recovered, and the ultimate safety levels of the cars hadn't really come in to question. That question was to be posed very, very soon however.


Qualifying

In Friday qualifying, Rubens Barrichello went off at high speed in to the wall. Brought to hospital, it was soon announced he had avoided serious injury and was recuperating well. Crashes such as Barrichello's had to be taken as a given in professional motorracing. Saturday, however, was all change. First of all, Luca Badoer's Benetton gave up the ghost after only a couple of laps, and he abandoned his car at the side of the track, not on the grass, but off the racing line. Roland Ratzenberger in the Simtek had damaged his front wing, and when he lost control coming up to the corner where Badoer's car lay stricken, those watching held their breath. A huge impact on his front left rendered the whole left side of his car destroyed. Ratzenberger was launched in to the air, eventually coming to rest upside down having someraulted several times. The broken Benetton sustained massive damage aswell, but Badoer had long since made his way back to the pits. As the stewards ran to Ratzenberger, the signs were not good. There did not seem to be any attempt being made to escape the wreckage, and it took more than 10 minutes to fully extracte him. He was alive, however, when the helicopter arrived to bring him to hospital.

Qualifying eventually restarted, with updates leaking through the paddock that Roland was in a life-threatening condition; that his odds of survival were 50-50; that he was going in to surgery; that his surgery was looking successful; that Nick Wirth was at the hospital; that he was in a coma; that he wasn't in a coma; that he was OK; that he wasn't OK; that he had died; that he was awake. The news was eventually released in a Simtek press release:

Our driver, Roland Ratzenberger, is tonight in a stable condition at a Bologna Hospital, after sustaining serious injuries in a crash at today's San Marino Grand Prix. He was unconscious after the accident, and was sent in to surgery upon arriving at the hospital. The surgery was a success, and he is now in a stable condition in intensive care. His family are on their way to Bologna now, and our thoughts are with Roland at this time.

With all the distractions that the accident brought with it, it was hard to remember that a grid had to be decided upon for the race, but it was done after a lengthy red flag period, with the following results:

1. Ayrton Senna - 1:21.548
2. Michael Schumacher - ++0.337
3. Luca Badoer - +0.492
4. Gerhard Berger - +0.565
5. Damon Hill - +0.620
6. Nicola Larini - +0.801
7. Gianni Morbidelli - +1.011
8. Mika Hakkinen - +1.592
9. JJ Lehto - +1.687
10. Ukyo Katayama - +1.701
11. Karl Wendlinger - +1.799
12. Mark Blundell - +2.155
13. Martin Brundle - +2.310
14. Michele Alboreto - +2.521
15. Pierluigi Martini - +2.730
16. Christian Fittipaldi - +2.924
17. Heinz-Harald Frentzen - +3.007
18. Éric Bernard - +3.130
19. Érik Comas - +3.304
20. Olivier Panis - +3.448
21. Johnny Herbert - +3.556
22. Andrea de Cesaris - +3.686
23. Pedro Lamy - +3.747
24. David Brabham - +5.269
25. Bertrand Gachot - +5.595
DNQ: Paul Belmondo - +6.333
DNP: Roland Ratzenberger
DNP: Rubens Barrichello


Race

So, with Ratzenberger said to be recovering in hospital, and Barrichello soon to be discharged, the race began amid a relatively upbeat vibe in the paddock. At the first start, Badoer was slow away, causing a bottleneck behind, resulting in the retirement of Lehto, Hakkinen and Katayama. With the three cars strewn across the track, the red flag was brought out, and after a delay of 10 minutes, the cars lined up again. This time, Badoer bolted in to the lead, with Schumacher following him ahead of Senna. 5 laps in, and Senna made an attempt at an overtake on Schumacher, but the German closed the door. On the same lap, going in to the last chicane, he tried again, but this time they locked wheels, and both span off the track. Schumacher recovered to the pits, but Senna was stranded in the gravel. Infuriated, he ran back to the pits, where the Benetton was getting it's front wing replaced. The mechanics were having great difficulty doing the job, and so was still there when Senna arrived, whereupon he kicked the back wheel forcefully enough that it fell down off the jack, landing on the front jack-man. A Williams mechanic dragged Senna away, and Schmacher climbed out of the car, which had been damaged in the fall. The front jack-man had two broken legs, but was not injured beyond that.

This drama set aside to be dealt with after the race, Badoer continued on in a distant lead ahead of Berger, Hill, Morbidelli and Larini. On lap 16 Berger retired with suspension problems, and Hill ultimately slipped back, leaving the race to be an Italian 1-2-3. A final pitlane drama capped off the calamitous weekend, a wheel falling off of Alboreto's Minardi, injuring Ferrari and Lotus mechanics, who required hospital treatment. Finally, the race ended after 3 distressingly tense days.

1. Luca Badoer - +1:32:18.465
2. Gianni Morbidelli - +32.945
3. Nicola Larini - +1:02.879
4. Karl Wendlinger - +1 lap
5. Damon Hill - + 1 lap
6. Martin Brundle - +1 lap
7. Mark Blundell - +1 lap
8. Heinz-Harald Frentzen - +2 laps
9. Johnny Herbert - +2 laps
10. Olivier Panis- +2 laps
11. Éric Bernard - +3 laps
12. Christian Fittipaldi - +4 laps - Span off
Ret: Andrea de Cesaris - 49 laps - Span off
Ret: Michele Alboreto - 44 laps - Wheel
Ret: Pierluigi Martini - 37 laps - Span off
Ret: David Brabham - 27 laps - Span off
Ret: Érik Comas - 17 laps - Engine
Ret: Gerhard Berger - 16 laps - Suspension
Ret: Michael Schumacher - 5 laps - Collision
Ret: Ayrton Senna - 5 laps - Collision
Ret: Mika Hakkinen - 0 laps - Collision
Ret: JJ Lehto - 0 laps - Collision
Ret: Ukyo Katayama - 0 laps - Collision


Driver's Championship after 3 Rounds

1. Luca Badoer - 16 points
2. Michael Schumacher - 10 points
=2. Gerhard Berger
4. Rubens Barrichello - 8 points
5. Nicola Larini - 7 points
6. Gianni Morbidelli - 6 points
7. Damon Hill - 5 points
8. Jean Alesi - 4 points
9. Karl Wendlinger - 3 points
10. Érik Comas - 2 points
11. Ukyo Katayama - 1 point
=11. Martin Brundle
=11. Johnny Herbert

Constructor's Championship after 3 Rounds

1. Benetton - Renault - 26 points
2. Ferrari - 20 points
3. Sauber - Mercedes - 10 points
4. Jordan - Hart - 8 points
5. Williams - Renault - 5 points
6. Larrousse - Ford - 2 points
7. Footwork - Ford - 1 point
=7 McLaren - Peugeot
=7. Lotus - Mugen Honda



Post race

Over the week following the race, the circumstances of Ratzenberger's accident, and Senna's tyre-kick, were heavily debated. The marshalling standards were criticised for not removing Badoer's stricken Benetton promptly enough, but the response to this was that it was in a precarious position, and would have put the marshalls themselves in danger. Badoer himself came under attack for parking in that particular spot on the circuit, but he claimed he couldn't do anything about it; the car had lost drive suddenly, and he could go no further. Ultimately, the crash was put down to severe bad luck, but one notable innovation brought in was a back up mandatory electric motor, to provide low speed power to bring a broken car back around to the pits, or at least a safe part of the track, if necessary. The injuries Ratzenberger had sustained were primarily from his head hitting the ground upon landing upside down, so cockpit sides were raised and made more sturdy to prevent this happening in the future.

The FIA decided to make an example of Senna following his kick which resulted in the Benetton jack-man's injuries. He was fined $500,000, banned for 3 races, stripped of the 4 points he'd already scored, and excluded from the 1993 records. The final ruling provoked controversy, as the offense hadn't been committed in the 1993 season. However, all the rulings stood, and most importantly, the 'great Brazilian's' reputation had been given a severe beating.

[Londoner]

This is great stuff! I wonder if Deletraz is going to make an appearance towards the end of the season. Hope so.

[TomWazzleshaw]

Could you please put Zanardi in the Williams for the next 3 races?

[Londoner]

Could you please put Zanardi in the Williams for the next 3 races?

Or Deletraz?

[TomWazzleshaw]

Could you please put Zanardi in the Williams for the next 3 races?

Or Deletraz?

Well Deletraz could take the Simtek seat temporarily vacated by Ratzenberger.

Besides Zanardi deserves it more. Infact I'll go as far as saying if he had better luck he definatly would have been a World Champion in the mid 90s and even possibly a dual World Champion. (Remember this was the same guy that was faster than the Teutonic Titan Schumacher during a race simulation at Benetton in the early 90s)

[shinji]

Could you please put Zanardi in the Williams for the next 3 races?

Just for you, I will.

[TomWazzleshaw]

Just for you, I will.

[Waris]

Am I reading it wrong, or is this thread suggesting that if Luca Badoer had gotten the second Benetton seat in 1994, Ratzenberger and Senna wouldn't have perished? That would be quite a bold suggestion...

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

I love doing these things! Do you think we could take turns writing?

Of course, it is up to you! I've pretty much given up on my F1 career!

[DemocalypseNow]

Am I reading it wrong, or is this thread suggesting that if Luca Badoer had gotten the second Benetton seat in 1994, Ratzenberger and Senna wouldn't have perished? That would be quite a bold suggestion...

The butterfly effect makes it entirely possible.

[Shizuka]

Could you please put Zanardi in the Williams for the next 3 races?

Just for you, I will.

Now this will be even more interesting!

[Phoenix]

Am I reading it wrong, or is this thread suggesting that if Luca Badoer had gotten the second Benetton seat in 1994, Ratzenberger and Senna wouldn't have perished? That would be quite a bold suggestion...

The butterfly effect makes it entirely possible.

Yeah, there's a reason for people traveling through the time in TV shows and films being told not to change anything...Maybe in the end Lotus and Larrousse survive, as well as Simtek in 1995 and we have 30 cars for 1995. Ratzenberger or Verstappen WC in 1997-1998 with Simtek producing a championship-winning machine?

[midgrid]

I found a reference to Badoer's Benetton test!

Badoer was tested twice by Benetton in 1993 and said: 'I was quicker than Schumacher at Silverstone, but then I crashed at Estoril. Lehto went quicker because he got the next two days and he got the drive.' 'That's funny,' said Frank Dernie, who engineered Badoer's test, 'I don't remember anybody ever being quicker than Schumacher in a Benetton anywhere...'

From Autosport, 31/08/1995

[shinji]

Fallout Boy - 1994 Monaco Grand Prix


Pre Race

With Senna's 3 race ban upheld, Williams cast their gaze over a large number of drivers to replace him. Originally, David Coulthard was given the seat, but he had not fully recovered from injuries received in testing. Veteran Riccardo Patrese was seriously looked at, along with fellow Italian Andrea de Cesaris, but neither were seen as a good bet for the future. Sure, they would do a solid job, but Williams wanted some passion, some verve, some panache! They settled on Alessandro Zanardi, who had impressed at Jordan and Lotus before falling fowl of the latter's need for a pay driver. Zanardi arrived with some massive shoes to fill, but most felt (and hoped) that he would be up to the job.

At Simtek, with Ratzenberger looking at a lengthy lay-off, Andrea Montermini was given a shot at the big time, having placed 2nd in the 1992 Formula 3000 Championship. Andrea de Cesaris remained at Jordan in place of Eddie Irvine, who was serving the final race of his 3 race ban for the crash at Brazil.


Qualifying

On Friday, Sauber driver Karl Wendlinger, lying 9th in the Championship, suffered a major crash, and remained in a coma as the weekend wore on. With the memories of Ratzenberger's near-fatal incident at Imola stilll fresh in everyone's minds, this brought safety to the forefront once again. Even so, the qualifying continued. Our Luca encountered some difficulties with the car, ending up 5th, 1.6 behind Schumacher. Zanardi in the Williams was 7th, 6 tenths behind team-mate Hill.

1. Michael Schumacher - +1:18.560
2. Mika Hakkinen - +0.928
3. Gerhard Berger - +1.398
4. Damon Hill - +1.519
5. Luca Badoer - +1.682
6. Jean Alesi - +1.892
7. Alessandro Zanardi - +2.109
8. Christian Fittipaldi - +2.493
9. Ukyo Katayama - +2.501
10. Martin Brundle - +2.662
11. Michele Alboreto - +2.719
12. JJ Lehto - +2.721
13. Mark Blundell - +3.054
14. Pierluigi Martini - +3.245
15. Érik Comas - +3.651
16. Andrea de Cesaris - +3.701
17. Rubens Barrichello - +3.799
18. Johnny Herbert - +3.815
19. Heinz-Harald Frentzen - +3.856
20. Pedro Lamy - +5.298
21. Olivier Panis - +5.571
22. Éric Bernard - +5.817
23. Andrea Montermini - +5.988
24. David Brabham - +6.096
25. Bertrand Gachot - +7.522
26. Paul Belmondo - +11.424
WD: Nicola Larini
WD: Karl Wendlinger


Race

At the start, Hakkinen and Hill came together, promoting Berger to 2nd, Badoer to 3rd, Alesi to 4th and Zanardi to 5th. Positions remained static at the front until after the first round of pit stops, when Brundle in the McLaren somehow had made his way ahead of everyone but Schumacher, until, on lap 38, the Ford in the back of Schumacher's Benetton cried enough, promoting Brundle in to the lead ahead of Berger and Badoer. Attrition in the lower reaches promoted some unlikely competitors to the sharp end of the field, with Alboreto running 5th for a large portion of the race, and Frentzen's Larrousse 6th. Towards the end of the race Badoer and Alesi came together, with Alesi unable to continue, and Badoer only able to potter around for the remaining 3 laps with severely bent suspension. This allowed a consistent Zanardi through to claim his first podium and his first points for nearly a year. Brundle continued on to claim a popular first win, after 10 years of trying.

1. Martin Brundle - 1:51.891
2. Gerhard Berger - +29.198
3. Alessandro Zanardi - +1:11.761
4. Luca Badoer - +1 lap
5. Andrea de Cesaris - +2 laps
6. Heinz-Harald Frentzen - +3 laps
7. Michele Alboreto - +3 laps
8. Olivier Panis - +3 laps
9. Érik Comas - +3 laps
10. Pedro Lamy - +5 laps
11. Andrea Montermini - +7 laps
12. Bertrand Gachot - +9 laps
Ret: Jean Alesi - 75 laps - Collision
Ret: Johnny Herbert - 68 laps - Gearbox
Ret: Paul Belmondo - 53 laps - Unfit
Ret: Christian Fittipaldi - 47 laps - Gearbox
Ret: David Brabham - 45 laps - Engine
Ret: Mark Blundell - 40 laps - Engine
Ret: JJ Lehto - 38 laps - Gearbox
Ret: Éric Bernard - 34 laps - Span off
Ret: Rubens Barrichello - 27 laps - Electrical
Ret: Mika Hakkinen - 0 laps - Collision
Ret: Damon Hill - 0 laps - Collision
Ret: Ukyo Katayama - 0 laps - Collision
Ret: Pierluigi Martini - 0 laps - Collision


Driver's Championship after 4 Rounds

1. Luca Badoer - 19 points
2. Gerhard Berger - 16 points
3. Martin Brundle - 11 points
4. Michael Schumacher - 10 points
5. Rubens Barrichello - 8 points
6. Nicola Larini - 7 points
7. Gianni Morbidelli - 6 points
8. Damon Hill - 5 points
9. Jean Alesi - 4 points
=9. Alessandro Zanardi
11. Karl Wendlinger - 3 points
12. Andrea de Cesaris - 2 points
=12. Érik Comas
13. Ukyo Katayama - 1 point
=13. Heinz-Harald Frentzen
=13. Johnny Herbert


Constructor's Championship after 4 Rounds

1. Benetton - Ford - 29 points
2. Ferrari - 26 points
3. McLaren - Peugeot - 11 points
4. Sauber - Mercedes - 10 points
=4. Jordan - Hart
6. Williams - Renault - 9 points
7. Larrousse - Ford - 3 points
8. Footwork - Ford - 1 point
=8. Lotus - Mugen Honda


Post Race

Karl Wendlinger was no longer in a life-threatening condition, but he remained in a deep coma, so Sauber needed a replacement driver for the Spanish Grand Prix the next weekend. They made up a list of possible replacements, comprising of the following drivers:

1) Andrea de Cesaris - 4 votes
2) Jos Verstappen - 2 votes
3) Philippe Alliot - 1 vote
4) Gianni Morbidelli
5) Jean-Christophe Bouillon
6) Riccardo Patrese

7) Bernd Schneider - 3 votes

It's up to you, forumers, to decide who gets the seat.

[Londoner]

Nice to see Zanardi unrejectifying himself.

I say ' The Man Who Crashes at Every Grand Prix', Philippe Alliot should get Wendlinger's seat, to see him undulge in reject antics again such as this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl6w2OHOwkk

[Salamander]

It has to be Jos the Boss for me.

[JeanDenisAlcatraz]

Andrea de Crasheris for me.

[AndreaModa]

It's Jos for me too

[ADx_Wales]

Sauber with Mercedes engines......sorry, it HAS to be Bernd Schneider.

[Phoenix]

Andrea de Cesaris seems the most fascinating of all to me.

[fvanalst]

Andrea de Cesaris gets the 2nd Sauber seat. Then in his 200th race start at Canada, by bizarre circumstances, heavy attrition, and in the rain, he wins the race. Just as Murray Walker says "Unless I am very much mistaken, Andrea wins a GP and doesn't wreck his car....." only then Andrea does a "Brambilla" and spins off at the slow hairpin, barrel-rolls the car once, knocks all 4 tires off but is perfectly ok, to which Murray Walker then screams:"....I am very much mistaken!!!! This is FANTASTIC!!!!" The F1 community celebrates the DeCrashesis's win, and so overcome, Andrea announces his F1 retirement. Jaime and Enoch select Andrea as "F1 Reject of the Race". Which then leaves the 2nd Sauber seat open for someone else.......

[TomWazzleshaw]

I'll vote for De Crashesis. And I approve of the podium for Zanardi

[Shizuka]

Sauber with Mercedes engines......sorry, it HAS to be Bernd Schneider.

This!

[DonTirri]

Am I reading it wrong, or is this thread suggesting that if Luca Badoer had gotten the second Benetton seat in 1994, Ratzenberger and Senna wouldn't have perished? That would be quite a bold suggestion...

Incase of Senna, it's not that far fetched. Remember that the safety car period that is suggested as one of the major contributors to his crash was caused when Lamy hit the back of LEHTOS Benetton. So if Lehto wasnt on the grid, Lamy wouldnt have struck him, there wouldnt have been a Safery Car period and Senna most likely wouldnt have crashed.

As for Roland... well, who knows

[andreamodawf1]

I'm voting for Schneider. He has more to prove in Formula One, because his best result is 12th yet he won the 1987 German F3 championship. He just had shite teams in F1.

[shinji]

Moving On Down - 1994 Spanish Grand Prix


Pre-Race

With Wendlinger still in a controlled coma, Sauber brought in Andrea de Cesaris, fresh from a two race stint replacing Irive at Jordan. He had the talent of Jos Verstappen breathing down his neck however, and with ex-Zakspeed and current DTM driver Bernd Schneider also seemingly in the mix, he couldn't afford a single slip up. Andrea Montermini remained in the Simtek vacated by Ratzenberger, who had been ruled out for the rest of the 1994 season at least. His and Wendlinger's crashes had prompted the reformation of the GPDA, who had petitioned for a chicane to be placed on the Catalunya circuit, to reduce speeds approaching the La Caixa hairpin.

Down at Lotus, young Pedro Lamy had crashed at Silverstone while testing new safety components. He went over the catch fencing, and eventually landed in a pedestrian tunnel, having broken both his legs. He was replaced at Lotus by Belgian Philippe Adams.


Qualifying

On Friday, David Brabham, the man who had held the Simtek team together after Ratzenberger's crash, was the next victim of a violent crash, sustaining leg injuries after a high speed crash at the final corner. Simtek withdrew from the race, fearing mechanical issues had caused the crash, but it was ultimately proven that that was not the case. The incident red flagged the session, and the other drivers were left to set flying times on Saturday, when the grid was formed largely based on outright speed. After experiencing various difficulties, Luca was left languishing in the middle of nowhere.

1. Michael Schumacher - 1:21.908
2. Damon Hill - +0.651
3. Alessandro Zanardi - +0.721
4. Mika Hakkinen - +0.752
5. Martin Brundle - +1.143
6. Rubens Barrichello - +1.686
7. Jean Alesi - +1.792
8. Gerhard Berger - +1.807
9. Andrea de Cesaris - +1.976
10. JJ Lehto - +2.056
11. Mark Blundell - +2.073
12. Ukyo Katayama - +2.143
13. Nicola Larini - +2.304
14. Luca Badoer - +2.467
15. Eddie Irvine - +3.022
16. Michele Alboreto - +3.088
17. Heinz-Harald Frentzen - +3.089
18. Christian Fittipaldi - +3.091
19. Érik Comas - +3.142
20. Pierluigi Martini - +3.339
21. Olivier Panis - +3.669
22. Éric Bernard - +3.858
23. Johnny Herbert - +4.489
24. Bertrand Gachot - +6.695
25. Phillippe Adams - +7.125
26. Paul Belmondo - +8.749


Race

The leaders remained in situ over the first few laps, with the only significant forward movement coming from Badoer, who had made his way up to seventh behind Barrichello by lap 10. The race carried on as was until the drama of Schumacher's gear box breaking down occured. He was stuck in 5th gear, yet managed to make a pit stop (and get away again) and carried on for the rest of the race in that one gear. He had to adapt his driving style significantly to counter the problem, but eventually came home third ( ), behind Hill and Zanardi, who he had no chance of fighting off. Behind them, Luca had fought through to the points by his pit stop, and remained there for the rest of the race. Ahead of him was Tyrrell's Blundell, who impressed, and Pierluigi Martini's Minardi.

Otherwise, Sauber replacement de Cesaris had an entertaining if not productive race, returing to his early years in a race of 3 spins, a pit stop mishap, getting in the way while being lapped, and eventually ending in a pathetic slow speed crash in to the pit lane wall while returning to the pits after an engine issue. Lotus newbie Adams retired after 21 laps due to fitness issues, and was instantly kicked out of the team.

1. Damon Hill - 1:36:14.374
2. Alessandro Zanardi - +10.578
3. Michael Schumacher - +25.835
4. Mark Blundell - +1:26.969
5. Pierluigi Martini - +1 lap
6. Luca Badoer - +1 lap
7. Eddie Irvine - +1 lap
8. Olivier Panis - +2 laps
9. Éric Bernard - +3 laps
10. Heinz-Harald Frentzen - +3 laps
11. Martin Brundle - 59 laps - Transmission
Ret: Mika Hakkinen - 48 laps - Engine
Ret: Johnny Herbert - 41 laps - Span off
Ret: Rubens Barrichello - 39 laps - Span off
Ret: Christian Fittipaldi - 35 laps - Engine
Ret: Andrea de Cesaris - 33 laps - Accident/Engine
Ret: Bertrand Gachot - 32 laps - Broken wing
Ret: Gerhard Berger - 27 laps - Gearbox
Ret: Ukyo Katayama - 24 laps - Fuel system
Ret: Nicola Larini - 21 laps - Gearbox
Ret: Phillippe Adams - 21 laps - Fitness
Ret: Érik Comas - 19 laps - Radiator
Ret: JJ Lehto - 16 laps - Engine
Ret: Michele Alboreto - 4 laps - Engine
Ret: Paul Belmondo - 2 laps - Span off


Driver's Championship after 5 Rounds

1. Luca Badoer - 20 points
2. Gerhard Berger - 16 points
3. Damon Hill - 15 points
4. Michael Schumacher - 14 points
5. Martin Brundle - 11 points
6. Alessandro Zanardi - 10 points
7. Rubens Barrichello - 8 points
8. Nicola Larini - 7 points
8 Gianni Morbidelli - 6 points
9. Jean Alesi - 4 points
10. Karl Wendlinger - 3 points
=10. Mark Blundell
12. Andrea de Cesaris - 2 points
=12. Érik Comas
=12. Pierluigi Martini
15. Ukyo Katayama - 1 point
=15. Heinz-Harald Frentzen
=15. Johnny Herbert


Constructor's Championship after 5 Rounds

1. Benetton - Ford - 34 points
2. Ferrari - 26 points
3. Williams - Renault - 25 points
4. McLaren - Peugeot - 11 points
5. Jordan - Hart - 10 points
=5. Sauber - Mercedes
7. Larrousse - Ford - 3 points
=7. Tyrrell - Yamaha - 3 points
9. Footwork - Ford - 1 point
=9. Lotus - Mugen Honda


Post Race

So, after a tumultuous 5 races replete with bangs, bans, and overall controversy, Luca Badoer finds himself leading the Driver's Championship, followed close behind by Berger, Hill and Schumacher. With Senna soon to return, the Championship is shaping up nicely.

Now, with two seats vacated, at Lotus and at Simtek, new drivers are needed. Phillippe Adams failed as replacement for Lamy, and Brabham's injuries have opened the seat alongside Montermini. Both teams have drawn up a shortlist of drivers to be chosen.

Lotus

1. David Coulthard - 1 vote
2. Gianni Morbidelli
3. Philippe Alliot - 1 vote
4. Mika Salo - 6 votes

Simtek

1. Jean-Denis Deletraz - 7 votes
2. Hideki Noda
3. Taki Inoue - 1 vote
4. Giovanni Lavaggi

Who drives? You decide!

[Londoner]

Coulthard for Lotus, simply because Hakkinen drove for them and thus it would be ironic when they become teamates at Mclaren (if they do).

Deletraz for Simtek, to see how slow he would drive on the long back straight at Montreal and provoke more 'And what is Deletraz doing?' moments from Murray Walker.